The Fantod* Menace

(cross-posted at First Draft)

I have given up trying to keep an accurate count of the number of entirely artificial crises that the GOP has precipitated over the past 30 years in order to accomplish their goals of A) destroying the federal government of the United States while, B) behaving like absolute dicks every inch of the way and, C) conserving their last breathe to scream "Neener! Neener! Neener!" at the Hated Liberals as the inferno they created consumes the Earth.

Honestly, these people.

Anyway, in case you're interested and live in Illinois, here is the White House's best guess (PDF) about how and where the latest fabricated-but-fatal crisis will screw you (if you live elsewhere, here is a link to a link to the whole list):

ILLINOIS IMPACTS

If sequestration were to take effect, some examples of the impacts on Illinois this year alone are:

• Teachers and Schools: Illinois will lose approximately $33.4 million in funding for primary and secondary education, putting around 460 teacher and aide jobs at risk. In addition about 39,000 fewer students would be served and approximately120 fewer schools would receive funding.

• Education for Children with Disabilities: In addition, Illinois will lose approximately $24.7 million in funds for about 300 teachers, aides, and staff who help children with disabilities.

• Work-Study Jobs: Around 3,280 fewer low income students in Illinois would receive aid to help them finance the costs of college and around 2,650 fewer students will get work-study jobs that help them pay for college.

• Head Start: Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for approximately 2,700 children in Illinois, reducing access to critical early education.

• Protections for Clean Air and Clean Water: Illinois would lose about $6.4 million in environmental funding to ensure clean water and air quality, as well as prevent pollution from pesticides and hazardous waste. In addition, Illinois could lose another $974,000 in grants for fish and wildlife protection.

• Military Readiness: In Illinois, approximately 14,000 civilian Department of Defense employees would be furloughed, reducing gross pay by around $83.5 million in total.

• Army: Base operation funding would be cut by about $19 million in Illinois.
• Air Force: Funding for Air Force operations in Illinois would be cut by about $7 million.
• Navy: Four planned Naval Station Great Lakes demolition projects ($2 million) could be canceled and a scheduled Blue Angels show in Rockford could be canceled.

• Law Enforcement and Public Safety Funds for Crime Prevention and Prosecution: Illinois will lose about $587,000 in Justice Assistance Grants that support law enforcement, prosecution and courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, and crime victim and witness initiatives.

• Job Search Assistance to Help those in Illinois find Employment and Training: Illinois will lose about $1.4 million in funding for job search assistance, referral, and placement, meaning around 50,780 fewer people will get the help and skills they need to find employment.

• Child Care: Up to 1,100 disadvantaged and vulnerable children could lose access to child care, which is also essential for working parents to hold down a job.

• Vaccines for Children: In Illinois around 5,230 fewer children will receive vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, whooping cough, influenza, and Hepatitis B due to reduced funding for vaccinations of about $357,000.

• Public Health: Illinois will lose approximately $968,000 in funds to help upgrade its ability to respond to public health threats including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. In addition, Illinois will lose about $3.5 million in grants to help prevent and treat substance abuse, resulting in around 3,900 fewer admissions to substance abuse programs. And the Illinois State Department of Public Health will lose about $186,000 resulting in around 4,600 fewer HIV tests.

• STOP Violence Against Women Program: Illinois could lose up to $273,000 in funds that provide services to victims of domestic violence, resulting in up to 1,000 fewer victims being served.

• Nutrition Assistance for Seniors: Illinois would lose approximately $764,000 in funds that provide meals for seniors.

* fan·tod  (fntd)

n.

1. fantods

a. A state of nervous irritability.

b. Nervous movements caused by tension.

2. An outburst of emotion; a fit.